Automatically-reversible ink-ribbon-feeding mechanism.



B. W. SCOTT.

AUTOHATIGALLY REVERSIBLE INK RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM.

{APPLICATION FILED HAY 25, 1906.

z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

B. W. SCOTT.

AUTOMATIUALLY REVERSIBLE INK RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25,1006.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. .v UNITED sTAt nsE ENT OFFICE.

B RTON W. sooTT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMEI-l Ts, To DETROIT TYPOMARKER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or momma.

AUTQMATIGALLYrREVERSIB-LE IN KRIBIBON-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Il'ietters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed May 25, 1906. Serial No. 318,649.

acoompan mg drawings, f rming a part of this spcci ication.

' The object of the present invention is to provide reliable means in ticket or other on the line 55 of Fig. 1 looking in the diprinting or stamping machines for shiftingan inking ribbon step by step with each operation of the machine until such ribbon is unwound from one spool or reel and wound upon another and to then automatically reverse the operation so that the ribbon will be moved step by step in the opposite direction, unwinding from the last-mentioned spool or reel and being wound upon the firstmentioned spool or reel.

It is also the object of the invention to provide for ease of operation in making the reversal so that no undue strain will come upon the ribbon,

With these and incidental obiec'ts in view the invention consists in certain novel featurcs (if-construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements whereof are recited in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is described in detail hereinafter and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Of said drawings Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section thev up or part of a ticketprinting machine wit the present invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same with the casing in horizontal section; Fig. 3 repres'ents a cross-section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows crossing said'line; Fig. 4' is asimilar view to Fig. 3 but with the parts difier ently adjusted; and Fig. 5 is asection taken rection of the arrows crossing said line.

The reference numerals 2 and 3 designate feed-rollers by which 'a strip of paper 4 is fed over a guide-plate 5 which surmounts a suitable casing 6 containing type carriers 7 reciprocated through suitable means not shown. Above the guide-plate 5 over a suitable opening therein is mounted a platenof the other.

block 8 and the latter constitutes the base of a frame supporting the ribbon mechanism. A housing 9 for the upper feed-roller 3 is preferably cast integral with said platenlock 8, this housing having a central upstanding portion 10 within which parts of the ribbon feeding mcchnnism' are accommodated and said housing is also formed with lateral wings 11 (Fig. 12) forming with the housing proper part of the casing which incloscs the ribbon mechanism. Another housing completes this casing, the same comprising a cap portion 12 suitably secured to the wings 11, and vertical portions 13 which risefrom a block 14 which fits the platenhlock and is bolted to the main casing 6. This block 1 1 provides guides for plunger rods 15 connected at their upper ends by a orossdiead 16 and reciprocated through suit able means not shown. 1

The wings 11 and the vertical portions 13 of the'two housings which compose the upper casing, 811113011, between them journal rods 17 upon w ich are mounted to rotate the ribbon-carrying spools or reels. Each of the latter-comprise a hub 18 with an axially extending recess 19, and disks 20, 21 and 22. This construction divides the reel or spool so that two-ribbons can be accommodated, one being'confined between the central disk '21 and one outer disk 20 and the other being confined between said central disk and the other ,outer disl The disks 22 are each formed with ratchet peripheries 23, the ratchet teeth of one disk )oint'ing op )ositely to those T e three disks of each spool or reel are formed with sliding radial slots 24- which extend into the hub recesses 19. The two inking ribbons 25 are secured at their opposito ends to rods 26 which occupy said slots and are radially movable therein.

When the ribbons are wound upon either s 001 or reel the rod of that spool will enter tiie hub recess thereof as shown in Fig. at the right-hand side. When-the ribbons are completely unwound from either spool the rod 26 leaves the hub recess and travels to the outer ends of the slots 24 as shown at the Y projections or horns 29 separated as to their.

center of thc spool both by gravity and by will be drawn inwardly as the slots a )proach. the horizontal and will enter the nu recess as the ribbons wind about the hub. These rods are employed as means for reversing the ribbon feed through the medium of a bar 27 lying along the outer sides of the disks 32 just above the base block and connected by radius links 28 with the casing wings 11 so 3 that the bar may move easily to and fro in the direction of its length. The ends of said bar form abutments for the rods 26 where the latterproject beyond the ratchet disks 22. The bar is so pro ortioned and positioned .with'reference tot e spools that as the ribof that spool moves outwardly in the slots 24, this rod crosses one end of the bar so that in the continued turning of the s ool the rod will be carried against this end 0 the bar'and the latter will be shifted. At this time the rod 26 of the other spool is of course lying in the hub recess of that spool entirely out of the path Ofetll other end of the bar. The latter constitutes a double-acting tappet-piece being formed at its upper part with confronting confrontingends by a considerable space and overhanging a reentrant opening 30 in the bar. The confronting end portions of the projections or horns 29 are designed to come alternately into the paths of movement of radial shoulders 31 on opposite sides of the ivot of a double acting pawl 32. This pawl as separate acting ends 33 for the two ratchets 23 between which it is positioned, said acting ends being somewhat "divergent so as to secure the roper cooperation between the pawl and either ratchet. pawl is pivotally attached to a vertical slide 34 by means of a screw-stud 35 and when 'tilted one way engages one of the ratchets as shown in Fig.3 and when tilted the op posite ivay engages the other ratchet as shown in ig. 4. I The vertical slide 34 fits a suitable guide- Way in an upright 36, forming part of the frame-work erected on the -platen-block 8. The slide 34 is longitudinally slotted at and a screw-stud 38 secured in the upright 36 1')asses through said slot and constitutes a pivot for a double-acting ri-astraining pawl 39, this screw also serving the purpose of confining the slide in its guide-way. The said'restraining pawl has two branches 40 diverging from each other and formed to engage the ratchets 28 for the purpose of preventing backward movement of the spool or reel 11)O11 which the ribbons are being wound. u a median line of the re straining pawl at a point above its pivot On the other hand when the spool turns in the opposite, 5 directionto Wind the ribbons thereon, the rod bons unwind from either spool and the rod 26.

The-

there projects a pin-.41 and in a median line of the actuating pawl 32 at a point below its pivot there projects a similar pin 12. A. spiral spring 43 connects these two pins and performs the function of holding the pawls yieldingly engaged with either ratchet dish and also the function of reversing the repawl by the reversal of the actumore, the spring assistsin reversing the latter pawl as soon as said spring has passed across the pivotal center thereof. T he tilt- 'ing movements of the two pawls under the inflpence of this spring are limited by abut-- ments on the upright 36;(Fig. 5) provided by the ends of flanges 44. The spring 43 in addition to its other functions above enumerated constitutes the means for raising the slide 34 to the limit of its upward movement as determined by the abutment of the lower end of the slot 37 against the screwstud 38.

The frame-work of which the upright 36 forms a part is provided on its base with bearings 45 for a horizontally extending rock shaft 46 which has a crank-arm 47 at one end and a wrist-pin 4S thereon passing through an arc-shaped slot 49 in said upright 36 and entering a transverse slot 50 in the slide 34. The opposite end of the shaft 46 is provided with a tappet-arm 51 projecting in the path of a tappet-finger52 secured to the cross-head 16.

the slide 34 for the tappct-linger 53operates throuQjlrthe tappet-arm 51, rock-shaft 46,

,eiii'ect of turning said disk and the reel of which it forms a part, step by step, causing 1t will be seen that reciprocations of the cross-head 16 will produce reciprocations ofthe inking ribbons to he wound thereon.

in the operation of the above described devices the step by step winding of the rib- .hons upon a spool or reel continues until their ribbons have been unwound from the other spool or reel whereupon the. rod 26 which anchors the ends of the ribbons moves outwardly through the slots 24 inth'e manner hereinbefore described and, taking up a position infront of one end of the bar 27, then acts against said bar and shifts it to a position in which one of the projections or orns 25) of said her extends in the path of Lil) the lowered shoulder 31 of the actuating pawl 32. In the next downward movement of the slide 34 this shoulder of the pawl will abut said projection or horn of the bar and thereby the pawl will be tilted on its pivot in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 so that the spring 45 will cross the central line and the pawl will be drawn into engagement with the rat-chetof. the reel or spool from which the ribbon has been unwound. At the same time the restraining pawl is shifted from its engagement with the ratchet of the one spool or reel to' the ratchet of the other spool or reel in the manner hereinbefore described. The succeeding reciprocations of the slide 34 will then cause step by step rotation of the spool or reel from which the ribbons have been unwound so that they will be re-wound upon the same.

It will be seen that the construction above described is well calculate'dto thoroughly fulfil the objects primarily stated. At the same "time this particular construction is su sceptible of various modifications and the invention is not limited to the details thereof so that in the following claims essential elements are recited'wi'thout suchliniitations.

What is claimed is: 1. The combination with ril)boncarrying relahaving opposed ratchet wheels, ofa re--- crprocating "pawl adjustable to cooperate wlth either ratchet wheel, and means for automatically changing the adjustment of the pawldirectly throughits own reciprocating movement by the running out of the ribbon; substantially as described.

2. The combination with ribbon-carrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, of a reciproc'ating pawl adjustable to cooperate with either ratchet wheel, and means for automatically changing the adjustment of the pawl directly through its own reciprocating movement by the running out of the ribbon comprising provisions for automatically varying the oints ofattachment of the ribbon to-theiree s radially thereof.

3. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending be-.

tween said .reels, anchors for the ends of said ribbon radially movable in the reels, :1 rcversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and means operated by the ribbon anchors for autonnitically reversing thc'pawl directly through the latters own reciprocating movement.

4.v The combination of radially slotted reels, having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending between said. reels, anchors for the ribbon ends slidable in the radial slotsof the reels, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and means operated by the ribbon anchors for automatically reversing the pawl directly through the latters own reciprocating movement.

5. The combination of radially slotted and hub-recessed reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending between the reels, anchors for the ribbon ends adapted to engage the hub recesses of the reels and slidable in the radial slots thereof, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and means operated by the ribbon .ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchetv wheels, and means actuat-ed by said ribbon rods for automatically reveisingthe pawl directly through the latters own reciprocating movement. i

7. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wh'eels, a ribbon extending be tween said reels, anchors for the ends of said ribbon radially movable in the reels, a re-. versible reciprocating .pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and a reciprocating pawl shifter operated by said anchors to presentsaid shifter to said pawl, whose own re ciprocating movement effects the shift.

' 8. The combination of radially slotted reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending between said reels, anchors for the ribbon ends slidable in the radial slots of the reels, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchcts, and a reci )rocating pawl shifter operated by said anchors topresent said shifter to said-pawl, whose own reciprocating movement effects the shift.

9. The combination of radially slotted and hub-recessed reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending between the reels, anchors for the ribbon ends adapted to en age. the ln:b recesses of the reels and slidable reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and a reciprocating pawl shifter operated by said anchors to present said shifter to said pawl, whose own reciproeating movement effects the shift.

10. The combination of reels having opposed rat-chets, rods carried by said els and radially movable with reference thereto, a ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately. engaging said ratchet wheels, and a reciprocating shifter operated by the rods to present said shifter to said pawl, whoseiown reciprocating movement effects the shift.

l1.- The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending be tween said reels, anchors for the ends of said ribbon radially movable in the reels, areversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchets, and a reciprocating in the radial slots thereof, a reversible pawl shifter operated by said anchors, the

sanie comprising a bar mounted on radius links.

12. The combination of radially slotted reels having'opposed ratchet wheels, a ribbon extending between said reels, anchors for the ribbon endssliklable in the radial slots of the reels, a reversible reci )rocating pawl for alternatelyengaging said ratchets, and a reciprocating pawl shifter operated by said anchors, the same comprising a bar mounted on radius links.

13. The combination of radially slotted and hub-recessed reels having opposed ratchet wlmels, a ribbon extending' between the reels, anchors for the ribbon ends ad aptcd to engage the hub-recesses of the. reels and slidable in the radial slots thereof, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchet-s, and a reciprocating pawl shifter operated by said anchors, the same. con'iprising a bar mounted on radius links.

14. The combination of reels having opposed ratchets, rods carried by said reels and radially movable with reference thereto, a ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, a reversible reciprocating pawl for alternately engaging said ratchet Wheels, and a reciprocating shifter operated by the rods, the same comprising a bar mounted on radius links.

15. T he combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon extending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappet-piece into and out of the path of the pawl the recipro cation of the pawl carrier directly effecting the shift of-thc pawl from one ratchet wheel to the other.

16. The combination of reels having op- .posed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivoted thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon ex tending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappetpiece into and out of the path of the pawl on opposite sides of the pivot thereof. 17. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a double acting pawl pivoted on said carrier and having abutments on opposite sides of its pivot, a shifting. tappet-piece, a ribbon extending between the reels and means controlled by said ribbon for movin the tappet-piece into and out of the path 0 the abutments of the pawl.

18; The comb'nation'of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a

shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon extending between the reels. and meanscontrolled by said ribbon for moving the tap et-p1ece lnto and out of the path of the paw said means eom- .posed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivoted thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet point's'of attachment of the ribbon totending between the reels, and means con trolled by said ribbon for moving the tap )e'tpiece into and out of the path of the'paw on opposite sides of the pivot thereof, said means comprising provlsions for automatically varying the points of attachment of the ribbon to the reels radially thereof.

20. The combination of reels having op'- posed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a double acting pawl pivoted on said carrier and having abutments on opposite sides of its pivot, av shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon extending between the reels and means controlled by said ribbon for movin the tappet-piece into and out of the path 0 the abutments of the pawl, said means comprising provisions for automaticallg varying" rib o the points of attachment of the n to the reels radially thereof.

21. The combination of reels havingI0p'-,

posed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon extending between the reels, and anchors for the ends of the ribbon radially movable in the reels and adapted to shift the tappet-piece, the reciprocation of the pawl carrier directly affecting the shift of'the wheel to the other.

22. The combination of radially slotted" reels having opposed ratchet wheels, 9. re-

ciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivoted thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappts piece, a ribbon extending between thereels,

a double acting pawl pivoted on'said carrierand having abutments on opposite sides of its pivot, a shifting tappet-piece, aribbonextending between the reels, and anchors for the ribbon ends adapted to engage the hubreees'se's of the reels and slidable in the radial slots thereof, said anchors adapted to shift the tappet-pieee.

pawl from one ratchet 7'5 wheels, a shifting tappet-piece, a ribbon excarrier, a'reversible pawl thereon adapted to reels, and means controlled by said ribbon alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-bar'mounted on radius links, a ribbonextending between the reels, and

means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappet-bar into and out of the path of the pawl.

25. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivot-ed thereon adaptedlo alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links, a ribbon attending between the reels, and means controlled 'by said ribbon for moving the tappet-bar into and out of the path of the pivot thereof.

26. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, adouble acting pawl pivoted on said carrien and having abutmentsonopposite sides of its pivot, a shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links, a ribbon extending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappet-bar into and out of the path of the. abutments of the pawl. i p 27. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl thereon adapted to alternatelyengage said ratchet wheels, a

shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links,

a ribbon extending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappet-bar into and out of the path of the pawl, said means comprising provisions for automatically varying the points of attachment of the ribbon to the-reels radially thereof.

28. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a' reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivoted thereon adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links, a ribbon extending between the for moving the ta pet-bar into and out of the path of the paw on opposite sides of the pivot thereof, said means comprising pro visions for automatically varying the points of attachment of the ribbon to the reels radially thereof. I v29. The combination of reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a double acting pawl pivoted on said carrier and havingabutments on opposite sides of its pivot, a shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links, a ribbon extending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for moving the tappet-bar into and out of the Qpat-hof the abutments of the pawl, said means coniprlsing provisions for pawlon opposite sides of the automatically varying the points of attachment of the ribbon to the reels radially thereof.

30. The combination of reels having op- .posed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl said ratchet wheels, a shifting tappet-ban mounted on radius links, a ribbon extending between the reels, and anchors for the ribbon ends slid'able in the radial slots of the reels and adapted to shift the tappet-bar.

32; The combination of radially slotted and hub recessed reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl carrier,- a double acting pawl pivoted on said carrier and having abutments on'opposite sides of ,its pivot, a shifting tappet-bar mounted on radius links, a ribbon extending between the reels, and anchors for the rib-bonends adapted' to engage the hub-recesses of the reels and slidable in the radial slots thereof, said anchors adapted to shift the tap )et-bar.

The combination of rees having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating pawl. carrier, a double acting pawl pivoted on said carrier and having,- a'butments on opposite sides of its pivot, a shifting tappet-bar, having confronting projections to alternately enter the paths of the pawl abutments, a ribbon extending between the reels, and means controlled by said ribbon for shifting the tappet-bar.

i 34. The combination of reels having opposed ratch'ets, rods carried by'said reels and radially movable with reference thereto, a ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, :1 reciprocatingpawl carrier, a reversible pawlthe pawl carrier directly effecting the shift of the pawl from one ratchet wheel to the other. '35. The combination of reels having opposed ratchcts, rods carried by said reels, and

radially movable with'rel'erem-c thereto, a ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, areciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivot-ally mounted thereon and adapted to engage one or the other of the ratchet wheels, said pawl having abutments on opposite sides of its pivot, and a tappet bar shiftable by the ribbon rods and having projections to enter the paths of the pawl abutments.

a e17,eos

of said -wheels, a pivota ill) 36. The combination of reels having opposed ratchets,'rods carried by said reels and radially movable with. reference thereto, a ribbon secured at its ends to said rods, a reciprocating pawl carrier, a reversible pawl pivotally mounted thereon and adapted'to engage one or the other of the ratchet wheels, said pawl having abutments on opposite sides of its pivot, and a tappet-bar mounted on 1 0 ta radius inks and shif e by the ribbon rods and having projections to enter the paths of the pawl abutments.

37. The combination of ribbon-carrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reci rocating actuating pawl pivotally mounte and movable into en agement with either' 9f said wheels, a pivotal y mounted restrain- 1n pawl movable into engagement with eit er of said wheels, and connections between said pawls causing the shifting of one to shift the other.

38,-. The combination of ribbon-carrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciiprocating actuating pawl pivotally mounty mounted restrainproduce simultaneous shifting; substantially as described.

40. The combination of ribbon-carrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocatory actuating pawl pivotally mounted and movable into en a'gement with either of said wheels, a pivota lymounted restraining pawl movable into engagement with either of said wheels, connections between said pawls causing the shifting of one to shift the other, and means for automatically reversing the pawls by the running out of the ribbon.

41. The combination of ribbon-earrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocating actuat'mg pawl pivotally mounted and movable into en agement with either of said wheels, a pivotafiy mounted restraining pawl movable into engagement with either of said wheels, a spring connecting said pawls to produce simultaneous shifting there of, and means for automatically reversing the pawls by the running out of the ribbon.

42. The combination of ribbon-carrying reels having opposed ratchet wheels, a reciprocatory actuating pawl pi'votally mounted. and movable into en agement with either of said wheels, a pivotally mounted restraining pawl movable into engagement with either of said wheels, a spring connecting said pawls outwardly beyond their pivots to produce simultaneous shifting, and means for automatically reversing the pawls by the running out of the ribbon.

' BURTON W. SCOTT. Witnesses i WM. F. SoHnEL'rz, Bn'rnua'n DUFFJELD. 

